USA > New York > Broome County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Broome County, New York. > Part 42
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Captain Rogers, on his passage from Balti-
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more, took a prize schooner laden with to- bacco, bound to New York, but was unluckily retaken by a man of war near Fisher's Island.
The officer and four men of wars men which navigated the schooner, are brought in prisoners.
I think it will be best to fit out the "Mont- gomery " immediately if provisions and other necessaries can be obtained; but the Captain and men decline going until the former cruises are settled; Capt. Rogers tells me he engaged in our service on the terms allowed by Congress, which at present I think is half the prizes, besides wages. Should be glad to know if the Convention understand the agree- ment in that light. I have not as yet had an opportunity of procuring Capt. Roger's accounts, therefore, don't know how much is due to him and the men.
The privateer, I am informed, is consider- ably in debt for moneys advanced by order of her former agent, Mr. Hallett, towards fit- ting her out the last cruise at New Haven.
If Mr. Francis Lewis is returned to Con- vention, it will be necessary to send me a sufficiency of her prize money to settle the accounts and refit her; but in case he is not with you, I desire Convention will withont loss of time, order him to remit me a suffi- ciency for that purpose.
I am the more urgent because there will be no chance of getting her out before the ac- counts are closed. Capt. Rogers tells me her prize sold at Baltimore rising 11,000 Pounds, that currency, which is at the rate of 7s. 6d. per dollar, I imagine 7,000 Pounds is not more than will be necessary for the purposes above mentioned, should you direct me to allow half the prize money exclusive of wages.
.
The Captain tells me he received at Balti- more from Mr. Lewis, about 700 Pounds.
I have just removed my family from the seashore to this place, and allotted to have set out for Convention last week, but the landing of the enemy at Compoo and the arrival of Rogers prevented.
I am, Sir, your and Convention's humble servt. JOHN BROOME.
N.B. If the salt Brig is condemned and sold, Mr. Lewis must send me of her proceeds in nearly the same proportion with that of the other prize. [Page 452, vol. 2.]
LETTER FROM COLONEL JOHN BROOME,
HARTFORD, May 20th, 1777.
Sir :- Capt. Rogers and his crew are so very urgent to receive their proportion of prize money and wages due, on their former cruises, that I thought it best for the Captain to wait on Convention in person, in order that the terms he entered into our service upon, may be ascertained to the satisfaction of both parties which agreement I understand was only a Verbal one.
Should Mr. Lewis not be returned to Con- vention you will please to advance to Capt. Rogers whatever sum may be necessary for the purposes mentioned in my letter under date of 5th instant, upon receipt of which I shall be careful to enter upon a settlement with them.
I have consulted Gov. Trumbull respecting the "Montgomery." He was so polite as to offer me the use of any port within this State for the purposes of rendering her safer and fitting her out, but declines permitting my receiving any hands on board belonging to this State. I must therefore endeavor to man her with refugees from our State. The rea- son of this prohibition, is that no obstruction be given to completing their quota of the Continental army.
I should be glad to know, by Captain Rogers, whether it is agreeable to you that I should engage him for a future cruise, on the terms he exacts.
I am with much esteem, Sir, Your and Convention's -
humble Servt. JOHN BROOME, Lieut. Colonel.
TO THE HONOURABLE
ABRAHAM TEN BROECK, Esq., President of the Convention of the State of New York.
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DIE JOVIS, 10 ho. A.M. June 5, 1777.
The Council met pursuant to adjournment. Prayers &c.
Present, - Pierre Van Cortlandt, President. Mr. Jay, Gen'l. Scott, Mr. R. R. Livingston, Col. DeWitt, Mr. Platt, Major Van Zandt, Mr. Hobart.
[EXTRACT.]
The Committee to whom was referred the application of Capt. Rogers of the armed sloop Montgomerie, belonging to this State, delivered in their report, which was read, and thereupon,
Resolved: That the sum of one thousand pounds be advanced to Captain Rogers, to enable him to pay the wages of the crew of the armed sloop Montgomerie and to reim- burse him sundry sums of money by him advanced for the said vessel.
That Captain Rogers render his accounts relative to the said vessels of war and of the expenditure of the money advanced to him, as soon as may be, to this Council of Safety or a future Legislature of this State, that a final settlement may be made relative thereto. That Lieutenant Colonel John Broome be requested and directed to see that the officers and crew of the said vessel are immediately discharged, and to sell or cause to be sold, the vessel of war, the Montgomerie, with her stores, to the best advantage for this State, and that as soon as the crew is discharged, he appoint some proper person to take the care and charge of the said vessel until she is sold. [Page 995, vol. 1.]
DIE MERCURII, 4 ho. P.M. July 9, 1777.
The Council met pursuant to adjournment. Prayers as usual.
Present, - Pierre Van Cortlandt, Esq.,
President. Mr. Platt, Mr. Tomkins, Col. DeWitt, Mr. Cantine, Mr. Gilbt. Livingston, Major Van Zandt, Major Tappen, Mr. Harper, Mr. Morris.
Whereas, Thomas Willis, a master's mate of one of the British ship of war, taken pris- oner by Captain Rogers of the armed sloop Montgomerie, belonging to this State and carried into the State of Connecticut: And
Whereas, Colonel John Broome hath, on behalf of this State, taken the parol of the said Thomas Willis, to go to New York on the like terms as those of our troops taken on Lake Champlain last year, were permitted by General Carlton to return to their respective homes.
Resolved : That the Council do approve of the act of Colonel Broome in the premises, and that they consider the said Thomas Wil- lis as a prisoner of war, to be exchanged for an inhabitant of this State.
Resolved further: That Colonel Broome be requested to apply to some proper officer for a flag or. passport for the said Thomas Willis, to enable him to repair to the City of New York. [Page 990, vol. I.]
DIE JOVIS, 10 ho. A.M. July 10, 1777.
The Council met pursuant to adjournment. Prayers as usual.
Present, - Pierre Van Cortlandt, Esq., President. Mr. Morris, Mr. Platt, Mr. Tred- well, Colo. DeWitt, Mr. Jay, Major Van Zandt, Major Tappen, Mr. Gilbert Living- ston, Mr. Cantine.
[EXTRACT.]
The Auditor General informs the Council that Captain Rogers hath appeared to audit the accounts of the sloop Montgomerie upon which arise the following doubts : -
First, Whether the crew should be paid
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their wages at the rate of twenty-eight days to the month.
Secondly, Whether some articles taken by Captain Rogers from one of the prizes for his own use shall be charged to him.
And Thirdly, Whether the accounts shall be settled with the crew from the face of the accounts transmitted by Francis Lewis Esq., without deducting their expenses attending an appeal prosecuted before Congress for one of the prizes of the said sloop, charging said expenses to account of moneys due the said . sloop in the hands of Joseph Hallet, or whether the said expense shall be deducted.
In answer to which,
Resolved: As there is a doubt how the said crew ought to be paid, therefore in considera- tion of their loss by the neglect of the agents formerly appointed for their prizes, that they be paid at the rate of twenty-eight days to the month.
Resolved: That the Captain be charged with the articles above mentioned except the bolt of oznaburgs and hogshead of ale, taken for the use of the crew. And,
Resolved: That the expense of the said appeal be liquidated in the account of moneys due said sloop from the said Joseph Hallet.
Resolved and Ordered: That Colonel John Broome be and he is hereby authorized and directed out of the moneys arising from the Sale of the armed Sloop Montgomerie to pay unto Captain William Rogers, late Comman- der of said sloop, the sum of four thousand pounds on account of the prize money due to him and the crew of said sloop. [Page 991, vol. 1.]
DIE VENERIS, IO ho. A.M. July 11, 1777.
The Council met pursuant to adjournment. Prayers as usual.
Present, - Pierre Van Cortlandt, Esq., President. Mr. Cantine, Major Van Zandt, Mr. Tredwell, Major Tappen, Mr. Gilbt. Livingston, Mr. Jay, Mr. Harper, Col. DeWitt.
[EXTRACT.]
A letter from Colonel John Broome, dated at Hartford, the fifth instant, informing that pursuant to the order of the Council, he hath disposed of the sloop Montgomerie for three thousand five hundred and fifty pounds, lawful money, was read and filed. [Page 992, vol. I.]
LETTER FROM COLONEL JOHN BROOME,
HARTFORD, July 5, 1777.
Sir: - Your order of the 5th ultimo, di- recting the sale of the Montgomery privateer, with her stores, I duly received.
In pursuance whereof, I advertised her for sale at public auction on Tuesday, the first instant, when she was struck off to Colonel Comfort Sage, of Middletown, for three thou- sand, five hundred and fifty pounds lawful money, part of which I have received, and expect the remainder soon. The net proceeds I will retain in my hands subject to your order. I cannot transmit you the account by this post, as I have a dispute with Mr. Levi Allen, concerning a small boat in which he was taken by Captain Rogers bound from Fisher's to Long Island. The boat was brought into New London harbor, and from thence was ordered by Capt. Rogers to New Haven, and on her passage there was lost.
Mr. Allen alleges that as he has been tried and acquitted he ought not to abide the loss of the boat.
We have submitted the dispute to refer- ence, and when it is determined, you may again expect to hear from,
1
Sir, your humble Servant,
JNO. BROOME.
HION.
PIERRE VAN CORTLANDT. [ Page 512, vol. 2.]
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[RECORDS OF PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 1777.]
MARCH 26th, 4 P.M. 1777.
Ordered: That Mr. Jay, Mr. Duane and Mr. R. R. Livingston be a Committee to report a proper paragraph for enabling the members of the other United American States to hold land in this State.
APTAIN JOHN LLOYD . BROOME. This distinguished citizen of the city of New York was the son of Lieu- tenant Colonel John Broome, who was one of the first Lieutenant Governors of the State of New York, being elected to that position for three successive terms. His mother, Rebecca (Lloyd) Broome, belonged to the famous fam- ily of Lloyd's Manor, Long Island, one of the most prominent and wealthy of that place.
Captain Broome was well reared and finely educated, and was an officer in a city regi- ment as early as 1793. From his youth he was ardently interested in local politics, and was appointed County Clerk in 1815, and through several reappointments held the office until 1822, when his successor was elected by the people. In 1823 he first served as mem- ber of Assembly, a position which he filled for some years. A prominent Democrat, he was strongly identified with the Tammany So- cicty, of which his father was one of the founders, and went with them to dig an in- trenchment at Fort Green, L.I., during the War of 1812, and later was stationed there with his regiment for some time. He was one of the largest subscribers to the fund for the support of the defences of New York
City, being known at the time as the wealthi- est bachelor in that city. His exquisite neat- ness of dress and extremely courteous manners gained for him the name of the Chesterfield of America; but, although particular as to his personal appearance, he was never classed among what were called in those days "dandies."
Late in life he was married to Mrs. Fran- ces A. Justice, a prominent lady of Philadel- phia, Pa., whose brother was the famous Major McGlassin of the United States Army. Major McGlassin's bravery during the War of 1812 is matter of historical record, especially where at the battle of Plattsburg with a de- tachment of fifty men he forded the Saranac River, surprising and defeating a battalion of British regulars, Peninsular troops, three hundred and fifty strong, intrenched there. He recrossed the river with his prisoners without losing a man, and his name and this event was later celebrated in song. The gal- lant Major was twice thanked by his superior officers on the field of battle, and brevetted for his bravery on this occasion by the gov- ernment. He received from Congress his commission as Major when but twenty-three years of age, and was the youngest to hold that rank in the army. As a special mark of honor, after the peace the young officer was sent to Montreal, Can., to deliver the Eng- lish prisoners captured during the war, and while in that city was the recipient of the highest honors from the English officers, who were so surprised at his youth that they could hardly believe his official rank, and presented
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him with a "marquee " valued at sixty pounds. Later he died in the flower of his youth of yellow fever in the South, while volunteering to nurse the sick.
Captain John Lloyd Broome and his wife were the parents of four children, as follows : Lieutenant Colonel John Lloyd Broome, the distinguished veteran of the Civil War; Ann Charlotte; George Temple; and William H. Of these children the Lieutenant Colonel is the only surviving son.
Captain Broome died at his home, No. 78 Broad Street, in New York City, on the 16th of December, 1835. He was universally re- gretted, as he was a good citizen, an honor- able man, and of unblemished character. He illustrated in his life the family characteris- tics which had made his father and his earlier ancestors prominent and influential people in the annals of American history. He was a faithful member of the Presbyterian church.
IEUT. COL. JOHN LLOYD BROOME, only surviving son of Captain John Lloyd Broome, and grandson of Lieutenant Colonel John Broome, an carly Lieutenant Governor of New York, of both of whom sketches are given in this volume, was born at the corner of Crosby and Broome Streets, New York City, in the year 1824, and was reared in the usual way of boys of good families until the age of twelve years. Having inherited a natural love for marine life, he entered the merchant marine service, and, after making several voyages, became an
officer of the Liverpool Black Ball Line of packets and also of the London Black X Line. While on one of his voyages as Second Officer of the Black Ball Liner "North America" to Liverpool, and while the ship was in Princes' Dock in that city, an occurrence took place which caused great excitement in Liverpool.
The "North America " was lying in the dock alongside of a Guernsey ship called the "Manderson." One Edward Le Huguet was the First Officer of this ship, and on frequent occasions saw fit to curse Mr. Broome, his ship's crew, the Captain and First Officer, and the American flag, to which he made the most obscene allusions. This course of con- (luct toward the crew of the "North Amer- ica " Le Iluguet pursued for some time, when, patience and endurance seeming no longer a virtue, it was determined by the crew to give Le Huguet and his men a good threshing by boarding the "Manderson," not- withstanding she was a British ship in a Brit- ish dock.
. Now on Sundays the Captain and First Officer of the "North America" were always on shore, -that is, out of the ship, -and the vessel at such times was in command of the Second Officer, Mr. Broome; and it was on one of these Sundays that, Le Iluguet and . many of his crew being unusually abusive, Mr. Broome gave the order to board the , "Manderson," which was done by the crew of the "North America," when a savage fight took place with heavers (a small club), mar- ling spikes, and fists.
It being Sunday, the "Manderson " had her
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LIEUT. COL. JOHN LLOYD BROOME
ST
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flag flying, as all ships in those days had on Sunday in Princes' Dock. The " Mander- son " flag was pulled down and torn to shreds; and many of the "Manderson's" crew were badly beaten, particularly Mr. Le Huguet, who was the cause of all the trouble. The "North America's" men did not by any means come off scot-free; for many of them got a terrible pounding, particularly Mr. Broome, who was but a very young boy at the time.
A great crowd congregated in the dock alongside the ships, and an attempt was made by the mob to board the "North America," and presumably to take possession of her ; but they were restrained by the police. It being Sunday, and the "North America'" being a foreign ship,-namely, an Ameri- can, - no warrants of arrest were issued on that day; but the next day Mr. Broome was arrested carly in the morning on a Judge's warrant, and imprisoned until the court met at 11 A.M., when, after a partial hearing of the case, he was admitted to bail, the agent of the Black Ball Line in Liverpool becoming his surety until the day of trial, which was specified. When it came, the court-room was crowded, great interest being manifested to hear such an unusual case. All the evi- dence for the prosecution and the defence having been given, the Judges, five in num- ber, retired to make up a finding; and, when the court reopened and the Judges came in, the accused felt his hair beginning to stand on end, so scared was he at the solemn looks of the white-wigged, black-robed Judges,
transportation seeming to loom up in the dis- tance. After taking their seats at the ros- trum and the court being called to order, the Judge, who sat in the centre, with two Judges on his right and two on his left, said in effect as follows : -
"Here it is we have an outrageous breach of Her Majesty's peace committed right here in our midst upon the Holy Sabbath Day. Riots and confusions arc and have been of - too frequent occurrence upon this Holy Day, and it seems some course must be taken to remedy this great and growing evil. Here it appears from the evidence was one of Her Most Gracious. Majesty's merchant marine lying in one of our docks, and in close prox- imity thereto was an American packet ship. It appears from the evidence that some ran- ' cor had arisen between the respective crews of the two ships, which resulted in the Amer- ican crew making an unlawful attack by boarding and violently assaulting the crew of Her Majesty's merchant ship; but, as the court have said, although this assault was unlawful, the prosecution in their evidence admit having used the most foul, the most indecent, and provoking language to the ac- cused, who also by the evidence of the prose- cution appear to have given no offence whatever, and were made subject to the abuse merely because they represented a nation with whom our people are allied by ancestry and constant friendly relations. And the finding of the court is, if you Englishmen will treat with contumely, abuse, and blasphemy those Americans who in the pursuit of their avoca-
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tions happen to be among us, why then you Englishmen must take the natural conse- quences of your misconduct. The accused is fined five pounds, and discharged upon the payment of such fine." The fine was immedi- ately paid by the Liverpool agent of the Black Ball Line, and Mr. Broome was released.
While making one of his trips to China, being then on board the ship "Oneida," he received the appointment of Second Officer to the American receiving-ship, "Lin Tin," Captain Macondry commanding. While serv- ing in this capacity, a fleet of pirate junks anchored in shoal water around a point of land not far from the ship, near the Cowloon passage off the coast of China. It was deter- mined by Captain Macondry to make an attack upon them with boats of the opium receiving fleet, one of which was in Colonel Broome's command. They made the attack upon the pirates, and captured and burned their entire fleet. In this engagement young Broome, then only fifteen years of age, re- ceived a severe wound. In December, 1842, when Mr. Broome was again in China, an English woman by her imprudent curiosity precipitated a serious riot between the natives and the foreign residents, in which the armed sailors of the English and the American mer- chant fleet anchored at Whampoa, seven miles below Canton, were called to that place to defend the French, English, and other foreign factories, whose interests were wholly de- stroyed, with the exception of the Americans. The woman whose Eve-like quality was the
cause of this lamentable occurrence was the wife of a British shipmaster. Knowing that foreign women were not allowed in the city of Canton, their presence being prohibited not only by law, but by tradition, which predicted that the fall of China would be brought about by the presence of a woman of foreign birth, she persuaded her husband to allow her to don male attire, and accompany him to see the sights of Canton. Her presence attracted no comment until by accident her hair, becoming disarranged and falling its full length, re- vealed her identity. In the battle which fol- lowed she· managed to make her escape to her husband's ship. In this fight Colonel Broome was severely wounded. Although the foreign factories in Canton were burned, along with a portion of the property of the natives, the Chinese were routed at all points. Two years previous to this event, while Second Officer of the East India ship "Commerce " of Philadel- phia, Pa., Captain Timothy Rogers command- ing, our subject received the thanks of the Insurance Company of North America of Philadelphia, and also a present of fifty dol- lars from them, for his praiseworthy and gal- lant conduct in assisting to quell a mutiny on board that ship when she was in great distress on the coast of the United States in the win- ter of 1840, on her return voyage from China. After this Mr. Broome was almost constantly at sea in the merchant service until the time he entered the naval service of the United States, as will be seen by the following record, which was approved by the Naval De- partment, as published in 1870, namely: Ap-
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pointed from New York. Commissioned as Second Lieutenant January 12, 1848. Served in Mexico, during the war with Mexico, at Vera Cruz, Alvarado, and Laguna. Ap- pointed Adjutant Second Marine Battalion at Laguna, Mexico, on the recommendation of the late Colonel J. G. Reynolds, who wrote to Colonel Samuel Miller of the Marine Corps, under date of August 9, 1848, as fol- lows: "Lieutenant Broome, while serving with me at Alvarado, came under my particu- lar observation; and, when the detachment under Captain Waldron was sent to Laguna, I recommended Mr. Broome as the most suit- able officer for the office of Adjutant. His qualifications, therefore, are fully presented you." In August, 1848, after the peace with Mexico, Lieutenant Broome returned to the United States in the United States steamer "Scorpion," Commander Bigelow, and during part of the passage, by order of Commander Bigelow, performed the duty of Watch-officer and Master. Was on duty at Marine Bar- racks, Brooklyn, N. Y., 1848 and part of 1849. While in charge of the steamer "New Or- leans," seized by the United States for engag- ing in a filibustering expedition, Commander (since Admiral) Joshua R. Sands wrote to Lieutenant Broome officially, under date of September 10, 1849, as follows: "I hope for to-night you will get along comfortably and without annoyance, and expect in the morn a more agreeable state of things. I am also instructed by Commander Mckeever to say that he is very much pleased with your con- duct throughout." Received an official letter
of thanks from United States Marshal Tal- madge, of New York, for services rendered on board steamer "New Orleans " September, 1849. Served in ship "Marion, " Commander William M. Glendy, 1850-52, on the East India Station. Thanked officially on the quarter-deck of the ship "Marion," May 27, 1851, by Commander William M. Glendy, through the First Lieutenant of the ship "Marion," for services rendered while in charge of the launch of that vessel in carrying out her bower anchor through the breakers, and by which anchor the ship was got off after she had been run on shore at Tam Sui, Island of Formosa, on the night of May 27, 1851. Officially commended October 30, 1851, by the commanding officer pro tem. (First Lieu- tenant A. M. Pennok, late Admiral Pennok) of the ship "Marion " for meritorious conduct on the occasion of the blowing up of the Portuguese frigate "Donna Maria II.," Typa anchorage, off Macao, October 29, 1851. Also, with the other officers of the "Marion" received the thanks of the Queen of Portugal, Donna Maria II., for meritorious conduct on the same occasion. In recognition of ser- vices performed by Lieutenant Broome, while attached to the ship "Marion," Commander William M. Glendy wrote as follows, under date of May, 1853: -
"This is to certify that Lieutenant J. L. Broome has served under my command for two years and a half; and during said period I had ample opportunity of forming a just esti- mate of his professional abilities as a seaman and accomplished officer. Lieutenant Broome
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